COUNCIL chiefs are supporting a blue badge crackdown after a resident hit out at fraudulent use of badges.

David Cope, from Evesham, criticised the "lack of council strategy" to prevent fraud.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: "Community and environmental protection officers, civil enforcement officers and council officials from across the county will be actively inspecting blue badges in locations with on-street disabled parking and district car parks looking for those who misuse or illegally hold blue badges.

"The crackdown is being led by all the district councils and is a county wide initiative.

"When a badge is misused, genuine blue badge holders lose out on access to disabled parking bays which are closer to shops and services, to allow for easier accessibility and wider to accommodate using a mobility aid.

"From a survey of English Councils by the European Institute for Combating Corruption and Fraud, the cost of detecting blue badge fraud in 2014/15 was £2.2m.

"Government statistics state there are currently 2.6 million blue badges in circulation and estimates misuse of the blue badge concession to be as high as 20 percent with a total cost to the UK economy of £46 million."

Mr Cope said: "I believe Government statistics seem to believe that one third of badges are being used fraudulently.

"You only have to look on YouTube, there are videos from other parts of the globe that highlight this.

"It is no good just sending a parking meter employ round because if a blue badge is in the window that’s it.

"I have seen delivery people park and traffic wardens completely ignore them.

"There are certain delivery companies that seem to believe that parking regulations are of no consequence to them."